Foreign Relations of the United States, 1902, Whaling and Sealing Claims Against Russia, On Account of Arrest and Seizure of the American Vessels “Cape Horn Pigeon,” “James Hamilton Lewis,” “C. H. White,” and “Kate and Anna,” Appendix I

EXHIBIT F F.

[Translation.]

No. 2218.]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Asiatic Department, June 1, 1882.

Mr. Chargé d’Affaires: In reply to the note which you had the goodness to address me on May 13/25 relative to fishing and hunting in our waters of the Pacific, and in which you have expressed a desire to have a translation of the articles of our Code which govern the subject, I have the honor to send you herewith the translation of articles 560 et sequitur of the Code T. XII, part 2.

Please to accept, Mr. Chargé d’Affaires, the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

Giers.

To Mr. W. Hoffman,
Chargé d’Affaires, etc.

• Art. 560.—The waters of the sea, even when they wash the coasts having a stable population, can not be subject to private ownership; they are free to the use of one and all.
• Art. 561.—No exception is admitted to this general rule except under the form of special privileges accorded for the right of fishing in certain localities and during a specified time.
• Art. 562.—The above rule relative to the freedom of fishing and analagous industries pertains equally with regard to all lakes forming part of private domains.
• Art. 565.—No restriction shall be imposed as to the nature of apparatus employed in fishing and other analogous industries on the high sea, and it shall be permissible to each and all to employ for that purpose such instruments as they may judge the most suitable for the conditions of the locality.
• Art. 571.—Ships in quarantine are forbidden to fish. The same interdiction applies in general to all individuals in localities where ships are under quarantine.